Frequently asked questions
Being weight neutral, are you against diets?
Being weight neutral means weight is not my primary focus. However, I am not against weight loss or specialized diets when necessary. There are a number of therapeutic diets (Ketogenic, Elimination, Specific Carbohydrate Diet, FODMAP, DASH, MIND, Elemental, Mediterranean, anti-inflammatory, etc.) that I can support clients with when needed. We can further discuss your particular needs as we work together.
What does TRAUMA HAVE TO DO WITH NUTRITION?
Everything! Traumatic experiences hard wire the brain for survival. For instance, a person who experienced food insecurity or punitive food restriction may develop nutrition behaviors that provide a sense of food security such as hoarding, stealing, and binging eating. Nutrition behaviors can influence nutrition status, which in turn effects our physical and mental health. Trauma is intimately connected with nutrition, as well as our physical and mental health.
How can nutrition improve my mental health?
What we eat has a direct impact on gut health, neurotransmitter production, inflammation, and nervous system health. All these factors influence how we feel and how easily we can self-regulate. By making simple nutrition changes we can support the “bio” part of the biopsychosocial origins of mental health symptoms, and feel better emotionally and physically.
my child is overweight, should i put him/her on a diet?
As a parent, having an overweight child can be concerning. Many questions may arise: Are they healthy? Will they develop chronic health issues in the future? Will they be bullied? Do they have an Eating Disorder? These are all valid concerns that we can work through together. However, it is not recommended to place a child on a restrictive diet, unless medically necessary, as a robust body of evidence-based literature shows that this only exacerbates the eating pattern. Restriction leads compensatory eating patterns and potential nutrition gaps. Together, we can work to create appropriate interventions to improve your child’s relationship with food and improve their nutrition intake.
Do you accept insurance?
Currently, I do not accept health insurance.
However, I can provide a super bill which you can submit to your insurance for reimbursement. Please confirm with your insurance company that your plan covers reimbursement for nutrition services.
Additionally, if you are a current foster/adoptive family in financial need please inquire about my Foster Adoptive Family Nutrition Support program.